Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is finding the same level of success with the Denver Broncos that he did with the Saints. Clearly, his year off didn’t make him rusty. He’s quickly built the Broncos into a true Super Bowl contender, and he’s been rewarded with a contract extension.
Payton signed a five year extension after his best year in Denver. The team has improved every year, and last season, they won the AFC West. They won their first playoff game since 2015 and made it to the AFC championship game.
Payton has also shed the “it’s because of Drew Brees” narrative some tried to put on his name. The Russell Wilson experiment didn’t work, but not many believed in Bo Nix coming out of college. Payton has him playing at a higher level than expected.
Sean Payton is close to stamping his case for a gold jacket
If you ask me, Payton was already a Hall of Famer when he retired the first time. Along with Drew Brees, Payton was the conductor of one of the greatest eras of offense the NFL has ever seen. On top of that, he won a Super Bowl during his tenure with the Saints. The offensive talent never got its proper due, but the lack of recognition at the time helps boost the lore of Payton’s creative genius.
If Bill Belichick’s snub taught us anything, its voting is unpredictable. While Payton doesn’t have the history of scandals that Belichick and the Patriots do, he does have Bountygate on his resume.
Though the evidence was spotty, it’s still a blemish on his resume. Additionally, the attitude that made Payton beloved in New Orleans has also made him hated elsewhere, and personal vendettas and emotions frequently come out in these types of voting situations.
Being one of the greatest offensive minds in NFL history with one Super Bowl may not be enough. Being one of the greatest offensive minds with two Super Bowls with 2 different organizations is a different conversation. No coach has ever won a Super Bowl with two different franchises, so that would put Payton in a class of his own in addition to his offensive prowess.
The Broncos are likely a Bo Nix injury away from making it to the Super Bowl last year. They have a championship level defense and a Super Bowl winning coach. Their offense has the pieces. Last year felt like the year, and that’s why Payton earned his extension. If the Broncos finish the job with Payton at the helm, that may be all he needs to secure a Hall of Fame jacket.
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